Book review by Kay S. Walsh

Candid, heart-warming, heart-breaking…hilarious!

The boy-next-door goes from losing a leg to cancer at age 9 to skiing as a member of the 2006 U. S. Paralympic Ski Team. Josh tells his story as though you were sitting on his shoulder sharing every encounter. Be prepared for a wild ride!!

Josh, a Harrisonburg native, shares of all the normal, often awkward, things most boys experience growing up… a first love, siblings, communicating with parents, wanting to go out for the soccer team, etc. Then he shares what is different…losing his hospital roommate to cancer, being interviewed on the Miracle Network, finding someone to teach a teenager with one leg to ski, etc.

Along with all these events, add Josh’s personality and spirit. He is extremely intelligent, extremely motivated, an extreme risk taker, extremely humous, etc. In other words, Josh is extreme.

In Harrisonburg, Josh is somewhat of a folk hero, not just because of the difficulties of his life but for the joy and hope he has given to individuals and this community. When his name is mentioned, there are always smiles. Everyone has a Josh story and a special place for the miracle guy… miracles both earned and bestowed.

If you have never heard of Josh Sundquist, you should. His is a fabulous story of growth, faith, pain and joy. You gotta read this book!

Reviewer’s rating: PG-13

Traffic came to a halt for several minutes at the bridge a few evenings ago. As I approached the scene, I wondered if there had been a collision on the bridge or some other vehicular difficulty.

It wasn’t anything to do with vehicles after all.

It was a long line of ducks marching across the bridge. There had to be at least 50 birds in this duck detachment. The first segment had no hesitation in following the two lead ducks to their roost spot along Cooks Creek in the pasture on the other side of the bridge.  After a short delay, the second group headed bravely in the same direction.

From the looks of the birds, this was a congregation of mom and dad ducks with this year’s offspring–who are almost the size of the parental units.

Once all the ducks were safely on the other side, vehicular traffic resumed.

I wish I’d had a good camera to capture the scene, but alas, no.

I’d be interested in hearing how long this group of ducks–known as a badelynge–has been around Dayton. If anyone has pictures of the Dayton ducks, I’d love to see them!

Here’s a link to a walking tour of Dayton , with plenty of history included. Maybe you’ll see some ducks when you’re in town.

~~Colleen

How do you picture joy?

Why is this important to the lay person? This imagery provides powerful information to identify disorders such as ADHD (attention concerns), fears, addictions, compulsions, obsessions, depression, grief, anger, etc. In other words, conditions common in today’s world.

Doctors, counselors and therapists use this information to prescribe personalized treatment. While treatment may include medication, usually there is a combination of diet, supplements, music, cinematherapy, laughter, aromatherapy and biofeedback. Treatment typically includes physical exercise as well as spiritual exercise (prayer, reading scripture, etc.).

Instant Vacation: Cinematherapy

If you have already had your summer vacation or it seems too far away, Dr. Henslin has a prescription to improve not only your mood but also your health: Plan on watching a funny movie.

In his Brain-Heart Matters Newsletter (May 2009) he states that research shows anticipation of watching a funny movie increases hormones that elevate mood and optimize immunity. Another study shows that, “…anticipation of mirthful laughter reduced the levels of three detrimental stress hormones.” Seems Patch Adams is right!

(http://drhenslin.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=5&articleID=49)

Clinics

According to the back cover, “Dr. Henslin has been integrating brain imaging into the treatment of psychological, physical and spiritual problems (at his) Christian counseling group in Brea, California.”

His colleague, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, who wrote the forward for this book has clinics on the West Coast and one in Reston, Virginia.

As proof that email marketing works, I stopped in one week this afternoon after receiving an email (yes, I voluntarily signed up for their email list) that they were serving a new soup: spinach and mushroom. Sounded too good to pass up, and the day was a bit gray.

Owners Lee Ann and Barry Jeffer guarantee everything fresh and organic, from the coffee to cookies. By the way, gotta try their harvest nut cookies–they are to die for–organic or not.

Anyway, my son was having fun with the video camera, so here’s my trip to Organic Grounds for a cup of delicious spinach and mushroom soup with a three cheese grilled sandwich on something that’s not bread, but really good!

–Toni

I almost missed all the fair this year. Saturday was the only day I was in town, and the rain negated any thoughts of venturing out during the day. By evening the barns were emptying and the time for the all-you-can-ride armband was fast running out.

I did get to see an animal show featuring a liger, a cross between a tiger and a lion.

What else to see on Saturday night? A horse pull.

The Horse Pull was a new experience for me this year. Having grown up in suburbia in South Carolina, I had no idea what to expect.

I’m glad I went.

Eight teams of draft horses competed on Saturday night. Two teams hail from the Shenandoah Valley: Dan and Ricky, driven by Randy Wonderly of Grottoes, and Leroy and Elmer, driven by Vernon Herring of Broadway. I was pulling (no pun intended) for the hometown teams. How can you go wrong rooting for a team whose participants have names like Leroy and Elmer?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be Leroy and Elmer’s night. Dan and Ricky tied for second place in the heavyweight division.

The last of the barns have now been cleaned out, the crafts picked up, and the rides transported to another site.

Time for school, cooling temperatures, and the color show of fall.

~~Colleen

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

With all the news focused on a politician who had an affair, it’s a relief to find therapy in a fiction book that addresses the issue. I tend to view fiction novels much as I do parables. It doesn’t matter that it didn’t necessarily happen. It just matters what is learned, i.e. the moral of the story.

In Healing Stones, Demi, a college professor is caught in an affair with a colleague at their Christian college. While many are throwing stones, Demi seeks forgiveness, realizing she must pay the consequences. She loses her job and alienates her family.

Enter Sullivan Crisp, a psychologist of the best kind. He is witty and wise yet struggles with his own mistakes. His incorporation of “game show theology” is an adorable bonus.

The story line is great…intriguing, mysterious, humorous, sad and yet, reflects true life. A read of this book provides clever insight into a path of redemption.

I spotted copies at the most recent Green Valley Book Fair. Amazon.com also has it as a bargain book. It’s worth the read.

The Central Valley Habitat for Humanity will be building homes a little more “green,” thanks to a grant from The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity International. The Bridgewater-based non-profit was selected as one of 123 Habitat affiliates across the nation to participate in an initiative to build into new homes energy-saving materials, reduced water consumption appliances and fixtures, durable, lower maintanance materials, and lower carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Central Valley organization will receive $3,000 toward every home that meets Energy Star standards, and $5,000 for every home that meets even higher green standards. According to Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation, the cost for building greener is not expensive and can save thousands of dollars in maintanance costs for homeowners.

In a pilot program last year in which Habitat built more energy efficient homes, about $2,000 worth of energy efficient materials were added to homes built by the organization. They are reporting energy savings of 15 to 30 percent in the homes where these materials were used.

Interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or learning more about the green initiative? Email Marsha Smith at Central Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Their participation in Saturday’s Valley 4th Parade in downtown Harrisonburg placed Shenandoah Living as runner up in the Most Patriotic category.

I offer a huge thanks to Leah Kilcup, Allison Farole, Andrew Kilcup and Dick Kilcup for their creativity and willingness to help make our entry in the parade a success. The costumes were handcrafted by this group and they were a huge hit at the parade. They helped decorate the “Monster Truck” in red, white and blue. I think they all had as much fun as I did!

Click here to see all the parade pics.

After spending a week in temperatures that ranged from 102 to 107 (with a 110-degree heat index at least one day), I was thrilled to learn that the forecast for this weekend’s July 4 Parade calls for 85 degrees and sunny skies. I just returned from the Gulf Coast. Gluttons for punishment, my family and I took the 18-hour land route, rather than the 5-hour air route. But I happily watched the digital thermometer in our truck gradually drop as we headed north up Interstate 81 this weekend on our return to the Valley. From 99 degrees early Saturday morning (before the day’s high of 102), the gauge had dropped to 79 degrees by the time we hit the Central Shenandoah Valley Sunday night. Bliss.

Two weeks ago I thought 85 degrees was hot. I am now looking forward to a pleasantly COOL day for this weekend’s festivities in the Valley.

Look for the blue “Monster Truck” in Harrisonburg’s Valley 4th Parade. The staff and families of Shenandoah Living magazine will be riding tail-gate style in the parade. Be sure to give us a yell!

Go to Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance website for a schedule of the day’s events.

–Toni Mehling

I’ll heartily second that view. Leaving the Valley for more than a few days always gives me a better appreciation for where I live upon my return.

I recently spent a few weeks in an urban environment. The “city life” felt crowded and rushed. There were trees, but not the lush landscapes of home. When I’m away from the mountains, I feel I’m missing something.

I was glad to finally leave the concrete and congestion behind, and get back to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Spring hadn’t completely finished sprinkling the landscape with bright new blooms as I got closer to home. Even the mountains looked wonderful in their new green blankets. I welcomed the sight of silos and barns, as well as the new lambs and calves. After weeks of cars speeding past me as if going to a fire and buildings jammed together with little open space, these were refreshing sights, indeed.

There’s nothing better for making me fall in love with the Valley all over again than being gone for a while.

The next time you’ve been away from the Valley, notice when you return whether you appreciate the beautiful place you live just a little more.

~~Colleen